Opus 2018-093: Japan: The Ultimate First, Part 1 of ?

We have just returned from a three week trip to Japan.  The reason for our trip was not to dispose of all that extra income we have accumulated over the years, although at times it seemed to be working that way.  We were invited to share the birth of our first grandchild.  Some firsts only come once.  So we went.

I guess you could call this an official announcement.  Some of you are grandparents many times over.  You smile indulgently and want to pat me on the head.  I have met people who were grandfathered in at 44 years of age.  I am afraid I had to wait a bit longer than that.  I had almost given up as some of you have done.  I did my part although I fell short of the 2.1 children needed for replacement.  I could never figure how to get the .1.  I take comfort in the fact that I have brothers who have gone above and beyond. 

It is a grand experience holding the next generation.  It is also encouraging to know that your children want you around to share the moment.  How many children are there who don’t want anything to do with their parents?  I hope it says something about us as parents as much as it says about our children.  To be honest, it was more about a girl needing her mother for support rather than having dad around, but I got to tag along. 

It was also a chance to get to know our son-in-law better.  We are still pleased with the man God brought our daughter.  She had to wait long enough.  We thought it was because she was too picky but it seems that God had to get the boy ready and that took some time.

I am going to be sharing some observations about Japan.  I jotted down things I noticed as they came to me.  I will be writing some as if I were still in Japan and others as reflections. 

To be continued...

homo unius libri